Friends, I am currently enjoying the beautiful blessing and joy of working with several moms and dads-to-be who are expecting their little bundles of joy by the end of this year. It is such an honor to be part of their process of preparing to welcome a new life into the world.
The process can be both beautiful and challenging. In addition to all the physical changes and challenges moms face during pregnancy, the anticipation of parenting a first or an additional child can create stress and stir up challenging feelings and thoughts for both moms and dads. So, it is very important to get good support during and after the process.
Here, I share Stephanie's reflections on how remote/phone healing sessions helped her during her pregnancy. Stephanie is a remarkable human being who has dedicated her life to promoting peace through education and activism. It has truly been a blessing and privilege to accompany and support her.
"I had been a regular client of Parminder’s when I lived in San Diego. I now live in North Carolina, and when I found out I was pregnant, I knew I wanted Reiki and Shamanic Healing to be part of my care and preparation regimen, to nourish me and allow me to be a beautiful vessel for the life growing inside me, and to nourish her, too.
When I mentioned this to Parminder, she told me that we could do sessions over the phone, which worked out perfectly -- both because I was living at a distance, and because it was really convenient in my pregnant state to receive healing from the comfort of my own home!
I can’t say enough about how important and helpful these sessions were throughout my pregnancy, and how they allowed for a much deeper transformation and healing for me. An interesting aspect of pregnancy is that it can bring up issues that you thought you had long ago healed.
In one of our first sessions, I said to Parminder with some surprise regarding one of my old wounds, 'I thought I was over that!' She assured me that this beautiful blessing of having a baby was also an opportunity for healing at a deeper level. What a gift my daughter was giving me, and I was so grateful for that perspective and realization!
Towards the end of my pregnancy, our sessions helped me to overcome fears related to birth. For me, it was mainly fear of over-intervention by the hospital, but in exploring this with Parminder, I came to understand that I was feeling powerless and needed to feel more empowered (which has been an ongoing theme of my healing journey).
In pregnancy, we are often told by medical professionals and well-intentioned friends (and sometimes strangers!) what we can and can’t, should and shouldn’t, do with our bodies. These messages can be very disempowering. I had forgotten that I had choice in the matter, and that I would have the power to say yes or no to any decision made about my body, my baby, my labor. I had the power to choose -- along with my baby, of course! -- how I would have my baby. Through our sessions, I was able to reclaim and rediscover my power.
This was incredibly helpful. I ended up needing to be induced (my little nugget was quite happy in her womb home and was not in a hurry to come out!), which earlier in my pregnancy, had been a fear. Rather than feeling afraid or disappointed, I felt like I had agency in the decisions that needed to be made. I ended up having an amazing birth experience -- even better than I could have dreamed. That would not have been possible had I not been doing this inner healing work with Parminder.
In addition to healing on a deeper level, our sessions also helped me to reflect on the kind of mother I want to be, and the example I want to give my daughter of living authentically and wholeheartedly. There is so much pressure on mothers to be perfect -- and like pregnancy, a lot of advice about what you should and shouldn’t do and what are the best ways to do things.
Through our sessions, I came to realize that what I most want to give my daughter is the space to be herself, and one of the best ways I can do that is to be as fully myself as I can be. One of the greatest parts of my healing journey with Reiki has been feeling more connected to my intuition, which I feel will be one of my greatest assets in motherhood.
My healthy, happy baby girl was born on June 7, and we just had our first healing session together with her out of the womb. I can’t tell you how special it was to have her sitting on my lap and breastfeeding while we both received Reiki love!
I am so grateful for the healing I continue to receive from these sessions, and am so excited to continue to share these experiences with my baby girl :)"
Daphne receives Reiki while on her Mama's lap during a healing session.
Look at those bright eyes. What a wonder the miracle of life is.
So much LOVE and JOY. May all babies everywhere experience this much love and joy.
Stephanie is a peace educator and mindfulness practitioner whose mission is to "Embody Peace and Cultivate Joy." She is truly a beautiful soul, so if you would like to learn more about her and the wonderful work she is doing in the world, check out her website at http://stephanieknoxsteiner.com.